Heat resistant glove and forearm plate holder

ABSTRACT

A padded, heat resistant glove and attachable forearm pad to allow restaurant personnel to simultaneously and safely carry, present and serve multiple hot plates and other dishes to patrons in accordance with proper etiquette. The glove includes a front piece, back piece and wrist piece joined together to form a glove, with the front and wrist pieces made of padded, heat resistant material. The forearm pad includes a top piece, typically made of padded, heat resistant material, and a bottom piece, and a wrist attachment piece, which attaches the pad to the glove, and at least one strap piece and corresponding strap attachment piece, which secures the pad onto the user&#39;s forearm. The glove and pad provide protection against burns from the hot dishes, while also allowing the handler the dexterity and flexibility necessary to better grasp and stabilize the dishes, and make easier movements, while carrying, presenting and serving them.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

[0001] This invention relates to a padded, heat resistant glove and attachable forearm pad that allows persons engaged in the restaurant and food preparation industry to carry, present and serve multiple hot plates and other dishes to patrons in a safe manner and in accordance with proper etiquette.

[0002] Persons engaged in the restaurant and food service industry, particularly waiters and “trunners,” are frequently required to simultaneously present and serve multiple hot plates and other dishes containing food to patrons in accordance with proper etiquette. To do so, they must be able to stack the dishes along one arm, and carry those dishes varying distances without spilling or dropping them, and have one hand free to serve the dishes. They also need to avoid getting burned by the hot dishes.

[0003] The use of one or more cloth napkins draped over the server's arms to protect them from getting burned is known. However, such use is cumbersome and does not provide for a reliable and stable means for carrying, presenting and serving the dishes. For instance, dishes slide off the napkins, the napkins slide along or off the handler's arm, and the napkins do not provide the handler the dexterity necessary to present and serve multiple dishes pursuant to proper etiquette. Napkins also do not provide adequate protection from burns from extremely hot dishes. Further, the use of napkins is not cost effective—e.g., it increases the costs of such supplies and laundry expenses.

[0004] The use of “oven mitts” and “hot pads” for cooking to protect one's hands from burns is well known. See, e.g., Barkes, U.S. Pat. No. 6,305,023; Ragsdale, U.S. Pat. No. 5,878,438. However, such devices are not designed for the purpose of presenting and serving food, do not provide the dexterity or flexibility required to handle multiple dishes simultaneously, and do not protect the handler's arms from burns.

[0005] Consequently, a need exists for a device that provides sufficient protection against burns and enough dexterity and flexibility so that a server can simultaneously present and/or serve multiple hot plates and other dishes containing food to patrons safely and in accordance with proper etiquette. The design and use of a padded, heat resistant glove and attachable plate holder such as the present invention is not known.

BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

[0006] The present invention allows someone to simultaneously carry, present and serve multiple hot plates and other dishes containing food to patrons safely and in accordance with proper etiquette. With the present invention, the handler can easily stack the dishes along one arm, carry those dishes varying distances without spilling or dropping them, and have one hand free to serve the dishes. The present invention provides protection against burns from the hot dishes, while also allowing the handler the dexterity and flexibility necessary to better grasp and stabilize the dishes, and make easier movements, while carrying, presenting and serving them. The present invention also should reduce the costs of supplies and laundry expenses. The present invention also is more aesthetically pleasing than the prior art.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0007]FIG. 1 is a palmar (or palm side) view, not to scale, of the hand glove, for the right hand, according to the invention.

[0008]FIG. 2 is a palmar (or palm side) view, not to scale, of the hand glove, for the left hand, according to the invention.

[0009]FIG. 3 is a right side view, not to scale, of the hand glove, for the left hand, according to the invention.

[0010]FIG. 4 is a left side view, not to scale, of the hand glove, for the left hand, according to the invention.

[0011]FIG. 5 is a dorsal (or top side) view, not to scale, of the hand glove, for the right hand, according to the invention.

[0012]FIG. 6 is a dorsal (or top side) view, not to scale, of the hand glove, for the left hand, according to the invention.

[0013]FIG. 7 is a bottom side view, not to scale, of the arm pad according to the invention.

[0014]FIG. 8 is a top side view, not to scale, of the arm pad according to the invention.

[0015]FIG. 9 is a top side view, not to scale, of one embodiment of the glove and arm pad according to the invention.

[0016]FIG. 10 is a top side view, not to scale, of one embodiment of the arm pad according to the invention.

[0017]FIG. 11 is a bottom side view, not to scale, of one embodiment of the arm pad according to the invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0018] Construction of the Invention

[0019] The present invention is comprised of a hand glove 1, such as depicted in FIGS. 1-6, and an arm pad 2, such as depicted in FIGS. 7-8. Hand glove 1 is comprised of a front piece 3, a back piece 4, a wrist piece 5, and an attachment piece 6, as depicted in FIGS. 1-6. The dimensions of hand glove 1, including front piece 3, back piece 4, wrist piece 5 and attachment piece 6, may vary depending upon the size of the wearer's hand(s). Typically, they will be sized so that hand glove 1 fits an adult's right or left hand snugly and comfortably. Front piece 3 is comprised of a heat resistant material, preferably a heat resistant fabric. Back piece 4 is comprised of a non-heat resistant material, preferably a non-heat resistant fabric.

[0020] By “non-heat resistant fabric,” I mean a fabric or material that is no thicker than the heat resistant fabric. Typically, non-heat resistant fabrics are thin and very flexible, and are not designed to provide protection or resistance against heat. By “heat resistant fabric,” I mean a fabric or material that is at least as thick as the non-heat resistant fabric. Normally, heat resistant fabrics are relatively thick and less flexible than non-heat resistant fabrics, and are designed to provide heat resistance. They are also, sometimes, padded in appearance. The heat resistant fabric can be made up of a number of thinner layers of material and optionally may include a linng.

[0021] Front piece 3 includes a mid-portion 12 to cover the palmar side of the wearer's hand, four front finger portions 13, each extending from one end of mid-portion 12 to cover the dorsal and lateral sides of the wearer's fingers and a portion of the dorsal side of the fingers, including the wearer's fingernails, and a thumb pocket 14 extending from one side of the mid-portion to cover the entirety of the wearer's thumb, including the thumb's metacarpal area. If necessary, the mid-portion 12, front finger portions 13, and thumb pocket 14 are sewn together at the matching edges.

[0022] Back piece 4 is preferably made of a non-heat resistant fabric, and includes a mid-portion 15 and four back finger portions 16, each extending from one end of mid-portion 15 to cover the dorsal side of the wearer's hand.

[0023] Wrist piece 5 is rectangular in shape and is comprised of an elastic material, preferably an elastic heat resistant fabric. Front piece 3 and back piece 4 are joined together, typically by being sewn, at the outer edges so that front finger portions 13 and corresponding back finger portions 16 form four finger pockets 17 and thus form a glove with into which a hand can be comfortably inserted. One long edge of wrist piece 5 is joined, typically by being sewn, to the ends of the mid-portions of front piece 3 and back piece 4 opposite finger pockets 17 so that it circumferences the wearer's wrist.

[0024] Attachment piece 6 is rectangular in shape and comprises an adhesive material, such as for example, hook-and-loop systems, such as VELCRO®. It is attached, typically by being sewn, to the exterior palmar side of wrist piece 5, so that the long edges of wrist piece 5 and the long edges of attachment piece 6 are parallel to each other.

[0025] Arm pad 2 is comprised of top piece 7, bottom piece 8, wrist attachment piece 9, elbow strap piece 10, and elbow strap attachment piece 11. The actual dimensions of arm pad 2, including top piece 7, bottom piece 8, wrist attachment piece 9, elbow strap piece 10, and elbow strap attachment piece 11, may vary depending upon the length and size of the wearer's arm(s). Typically, they will be dimensioned so that arm pad 2 covers the forearm area of an adult's right or left arm from the wrist to the just below the elbow joint. Top piece 7 is typically made of a heat resistant fabric with a wide end 18, a narrow end 19 and two lateral sides 20. Bottom piece 8 is preferably made of a non-heat resistant fabric and includes a wide end 21, a narrow end 22, and two lateral sides 23. Top piece 7 is joined together with the bottom piece 8, typically by top piece 7 being sewn along its edges onto the bottom piece 8, so that wide ends 18 and 21, narrow ends 19 and 22, and lateral sides 20 and 23, are aligned with each other, respectively, to form the basic structure and shape of arm pad 2, as depicted in FIG. 8.

[0026] Wrist attachment piece 9 is rectangular in shape and made of an adhesive material. It is attached to, typically by being sewn onto, bottom piece 8 at the center of, and with one of its long sides parallel to, narrow end 22, as depicted in FIG. 7. Elbow strap piece 10 is preferably made of fabric of sufficient length to circumference the wearer's forearm below the elbow joint, and includes two opposite ends, fixed end 24 and loose end 25. Fixed end 24 of elbow strap piece 10 is permanently attached to top piece 7 at wide end 18 near one lateral side and parallel to wide end 18, as depicted in FIG. 8. Elbow strap attachment piece 11 is generally rectangular in shape and made of an adhesive material, such as for example, hook-and-loop systems, such as VELCRO®, and is attached to top piece 7 at wide end 18 near the lateral side opposite elbow strap piece 10 and parallel to wide end 18, as depicted in FIG. 8. Loose end 25 can be attached to and detached from elbow strap attachment piece 11. Arm pad 2 can be attached to glove 1 by connecting attachment piece 6 to wrist attachment piece 9, as depicted in FIG. 9.

[0027] In one embodiment of the present invention, the fabric used to make back piece 4 and bottom piece 8 is 1/1 unrmilled cotton approximately {fraction (1/16)} inch thick, and the material used to make front piece 3 and top piece 7 is made of a layer unwoven cotton fibers approximately {fraction (1/4)} inch thick sewn between two layers of woven cotton fabric.

[0028] In a second embodiment of the invention, as shown in FIGS. 9-11, arm pad 2 further comprises a forearm strap piece 26 and a forearm strap attachment piece 27. Forearm strap piece 26 is preferably made of fabric of sufficient length to circumference the wearer's forearm midway between the elbow joint and wrist, and includes two opposite ends, fixed end 28 and loose end 29. Fixed end 28 of forearm strap piece 26 is permanently attached to top piece 7 approximately midway between wide end 18 and narrow end 19 near one lateral side 20 and perpendicular to that side, as depicted in FIGS. 9-11. Forearm strap attachment piece 11 is generally rectangular in shape and made of an adhesive material, such as for example, hook-and-loop systems, such as VELCRO®, and is attached to top piece 7 approximately midway between wide end 18 and narrow end 19 near the lateral side 20 opposite forearm strap piece 10 and parallel to wide end 18, as depicted in FIGS. 9-11 Loose end 29 can be attached to and detached from forearm strap attachment piece 11.

[0029] In another embodiment of the invention, the arm pad may be comprised of more than one forearm strap piece and corresponding forearm strap attachment piece.

[0030] Use of the Invention

[0031] To use the present invention, the wearer inserts their hand (right or left as appropriate) into glove 1 so that their fingers and thumb fit in appropriate finger pockets 17 and thumb pocket 14. The wearer can put on glove 1, with or without it being attached to arm pad 2 in the manner described above. With arm pad 2 attached to glove 1 in such a manner, the wearer then places the arm pad 2 over their forearm in a desirable position and secures it in place by firmly wrapping elbow strap piece 10 around the arm and securing loose end 25 to elbow strap attachment piece 11, and, if applicable, firmly wrapping forearm strap piece 26 around the arm and securing loose end 29 to forearm strap attachment piece 27.

[0032] Typically, the wearer will grasp a first plate or dish with their gloved hand, palm side up, with their thumb protruding over the top edge of the plate or dish. The wearer can then successively stack additional plates or dishes on top of the portion of thumb pocket 14 which protrudes over the edge of the first plate or dish, as well as on top of the remaining exposed portions of the palmar sides of thumb pocket 14, front piece 3 and wrist piece 5, and in an upward direction along the arm from the wrist to the elbow on top piece 7 of arm pad 2.

[0033] Description of the Preferred Embodiment

[0034] In a preferred embodiment of the invention, attachment piece 6, wrist attachment piece 9, strap attachment piece 11, loose ends 25 of elbow strap piece 10, and loose end 29 of forearm strap piece 26 ate fabricated of the material commonly known as Velcro® (a so-called “hook-and-loop” fastener). The use of Velcro® in such a manner allows the wearer to put on and take off the present invention quickly, which increases the wearer's work efficiency.

[0035] Utility of the Present Invention

[0036] The present invention allows someone to simultaneously carry, present and serve multiple hot plates and other dishes containing food to patrons safely and in accordance with proper etiquette. With the present invention, the handler can easily stack the dishes along one arm, carry those dishes varying distances without spilling or dropping them, and have one hand free to serve the dishes. The glove and plate holder portions of the present invention provide protection against burns from the hot dishes. Use of fabric allows the handler the dexterity and flexibility necessary to better grasp and stabilize the dishes, and make easier movements, while carrying, presenting and serving them. The present invention also should reduce the costs of supplies and laundry expenses. The present invention also is more aesthetically pleasing than the prior art.

[0037] The Present Invention Distinguished from the Prior Art

[0038] The present invention is not anticipated by the prior art. Although the use of “oven mitts” and “hot pads,” such as Barkes (U.S. Pat. No. 6,305,023) and Ragsdale (U.S. Pat. No. 5,878,438), for cooking to protect one's hands from burns is well known, such devices are not designed for the purpose of carrying presenting and/or serving multiple hot plates or dishes to patrons, do not provide the dexterity or flexibility required to do so, and do not protect the wearer's arms from burns which can be caused by that activity. The present invention's use of a glove-type device and use of fabric for the back piece 4, rather than the insulated, padded and/or heat resistant materials used in the prior art, provides for more flexibility and dexterity for the wearer to grasp and handle dishes. According to the present invention, insulated, padded and/or heat resistant fabric material used only for the exterior surfaces of the invention, such as front piece 3, top piece 7 and, preferably wrist piece 5, with which hot plates and dishes being handled by the wearer will come into contact, to protect against burns. 

I claim:
 1. A glove, comprising: a front piece; a back piece; a wrist piece; and a glove attachment piece wherein said attachment piece is attached to the wrist piece.
 2. A glove according to claim 1, wherein the front piece is comprised of a heat resistant fabric; the back piece is comprised of a non-heat resistant fabric; and the wrist piece is comprised of a non-heat resistant fabric.
 3. A glove according to claim 1, further comprising an arm pad comprised of: a top piece a bottom piece a wrist attachment piece comprising an adhesive material; an elbow strap piece comprising two ends, a fixed end and a loose end; and an elbow strap attachment piece comprising an adhesive material; wherein said top piece and said bottom piece are joined together to form an arm pad with a short end, a wide end and two lateral sides of varying lengths sufficient to cover at least a portion of a wearer's forearm from the wrist to the elbow; the wrist attachment piece being joined to the arm pad at the short end; and the wrist attachment piece being attached to the attachment piece of the glove; wherein said fixed end of the elbow strap piece is attached to the arm pad at the wide end; said elbow strap attachment piece is attached to the arm pad at the wide end; and the loose end of said elbow strap piece being temporarily attachlable to the elbow strap attachment piece.
 4. A glove according to claim 3, wherein said arm pad is further comprised of: one or more forearm strap pieces, each comprising two ends, a fixed end and a loose end; and one or more corresponding forearm strap attachment pieces comprising an adhesive material; wherein said fixed end of each forearm strap attachment piece is attached to the arm pad between the wide end and the narrow end; each said forearm strap attachment piece is attached to the arm pad between the wide end and the narrow end; and the loose end of each said forearm strap piece being temporarily attachable to the corresponding forearm strap attachment piece.
 5. A glove according to claim 1, wherein the attachment piece of said hand glove comprises a hook-and-loop fastening material.
 6. A glove according to claim 3, wherein the attachment piece of said hand glove and the wrist attachment piece of said arm pad each comprise a hook-and-loop fastening material.
 7. A glove according to claim 3, wherein the attachment piece of said hand glove, the wrist attachment piece of said arm pad, and the elbow strap attachment piece of said arm pad each comprise a hook-and-loop fastening material.
 8. A glove according to claim 4, wherein the attachment piece of said hand glove, the wrist attachment piece of said arm pad, the elbow strap attachment piece of said arm pad, and each said forearm strap attachment piece each comprise a hook-and-loop fastening material. 